Three Verve Coffee Roasters Locations Vote To Unionize – CoffeeTalk

Employees at three Verve Coffee Roasters cafés, located in Santa Cruz and San Francisco, unanimously voted to unionize, motivated by low wages, inconsistent hours, and the pursuit of greater workplace input. The cafés involved are the Fair Avenue and Pacific Avenue locations in Santa Cruz and the Market Street café in San Francisco. Although the election results were clear, certification by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) might be delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown, which may prolong the commencement of contract negotiations.

The decision to unionize reflects a growing trend within coffee chains in Santa Cruz County, where other establishments like Starbucks have previously succeeded in similar efforts. Notably, in 2022, two Starbucks locations in Santa Cruz were among the first in California to vote to unionize, despite one location recently closing amid nationwide cutbacks.

Approximately a dozen workers, including baristas, managers, and shift leads, participated in the voting process at each café. Sasha Pavy, an employee at the Pacific Avenue location and a key organizer, described the voting experience as straightforward and efficient. Employees voted anonymously, and the overwhelming support was evident as each ballot was counted, resulting in no dissenting votes. Pavy expressed emotional solidarity with her coworkers during the announcement of the results.

Concerns raised by the workers about their conditions included stagnant low wages, inconsistent raises, a decline in tips, and staffing issues. Their formal request to unionize was made on September 1, coinciding with Labor Day, which celebrates worker rights. In addition to the three cafés that just unionized, three more Verve locations, situated within corporate headquarters for companies such as Slack, Meta, and Levi Strauss & Co., are slated for union elections on November 5.

With the vote completed, the employees are temporarily pausing union activities but will soon select a representative to engage in negotiations with the ownership. Jim Araby, the director of strategic campaigns at United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), assists Verve employees in navigating the legal process. He highlighted the strong desire among workers for union representation, indicating that the NLRB will send out official certification letters but noted that the shutdown might delay this process.

Following certification, workers plan to form a bargaining committee and will survey members to prioritize key issues for negotiation, including wages and benefits. While the negotiations might begin in late November or early December, it could take anywhere from six months to a year to finalize a contract, contingent on the company’s willingness to engage with the union in good faith. Pavy expressed interest in possibly representing her colleagues in the upcoming negotiations, showcasing the commitment of the Verve workforce to advocate for improved working conditions.

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